Magnetic figure toy



22, 1950 A. o. BUSTANOBY 2,519,883-

MAGNETIC FIGURE TOY Filed June 17, 1949 2 Sheeps-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ANDRE O. BUSTANOBY ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1950 A. o. BUSTANOBY MAGNETIC FIGURE TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1949 VINVENTOR ANDRE O. BUSTANOBY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC FIGURE TOY Andre 0. Bustanoby, Grover, Mo. Application June 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,679

11 Claims.

This .invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in novelty toys and more particularly to an animated toy.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an animated toy which is simple and economical in construction and lends itself readily to manufacture in molded, synthetic plastic materials.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelty toy in the form of a head having articulating jaws which open and close to simulate the movement of talking and eating.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an articulating novelty toy of the type stated which is actuated by concealed magnets so as to lend an atmosphere of mystery as well as novelty to the operation thereof.

It is a further object 'of the present invention to provide a novelty toy simulative of a head, such as an'animals head, puppet head, or the like, swivelly mounted in the region of the neck so that the head may be turned freely from side to side.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel feature of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets):

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a puppet head constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the puppet head with the mouth open to simulate eating movement;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of novelty toy constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 6 is 'a side elevational view of the modified form of novelty toy with the mouth thereof in open position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 88 of Figure '7;

Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 9-9 and l0l0, respectively, of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a further modified form of the novelty toy constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken I along line I2-l2 of Figure 11.

head and upper jaw is hingedly connected as a.

unit to thelower jaw and neck portion of the figure. Concealed within theupper portion of the figure is a tiny, highly magnetized insert .and provided for cooperation therewith is another obj'ect such as a miniature ice cream cone, hot dog, carrot, milk bottle, or the like, so

arranged that only one end thereof will -.nor-

mally be presented toward. the mouth of the toy. In this end is concealed a second highly mag.- netized insert, the polarity of which is so arranged that when the latter object is presented toward the mouth of the figure the magnets will be of '7 like polarity and hence repel each other forcibly, as a result of which repulsion the upper or head portion of the figure will rock backwardly on its hinged connection simulative of a mouth opening movement thereby creating the illusion that the figure is opening its mouth to bite or otherwise ingest the proffered article. Preferably, though not necessarily, the lower or neck portion of the figure may be swivelly mounted upon a base so that the entire head will move from said to side thus, by a proper arrangement of magnets, the head can be made to turn fromsaid to side when a proffered object is brought into close range, depending upon the relative polarity of the mag: nets in the proffered object and the figure itself.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a puppet head which comprises an upper or skull portion I molded of suitable synthetic plastic material. For ease in assembly, the skull portion I preferably consists-of a front or face portion 2 and a rear.portion 3 which are separately molded and are adhesively secured together along a juncture line 4. InteriorIy, the head portion I is provided with socket bosses 5, 5, which lie along the juncture line 4 and are actually divided into two halves, all as best seen in Figure 3 for purposes more presently fully appearing.

Provided for co-operation with the head portion I is a lower portion 6, integrally'including a jaw simulative section I and a neck simulative section 8, the latter being provided with a depending swivel pin 9 for rotative disposition; i n the upper end of a base member in. integrally 3 molded with, and projecting upwardly from, the rearward side of the jaw simulative portion 1 is an upstanding tongue-like element ii terminating at its upper end in an integrally, transversely extending hinge pin i2 the ends of which project irockingly into the bosses i, I, when the two parts of the upper portion i are brought together along the juncture line 4 and cemented to each other.

Inserted into the portion of the face 2, which would ordinarily correspond to the position of the nose, is a cylindrical slug it formed preferably of a high permeability, metallic alloy, Alnico, or the like.

Provided for cooperation with the toy A is an auxiliary object which, for example, may take the form of an ice cream cone'B, also moldedof synthetic'plastic material. Concealed within the ice cream cone B is a second highly magbosses 2|, 2!. which are so shapedas to form a hinge receiving socket is when the element 22 is adhesively'secured to the element it.

Inserted loosely through the opening 24 is a separately molded upper bill or beak member 21 integrally provided at its rearward or inner end with a transversely extending hinge bar 2| the opposite ends of which project loosely and rockingly into the socket 26. Concealed withinthe forward end of the upper beak member 21 is a cylindrical sing or magnet 2! formed of a suitable high permeability metallic alloy substantially the same as the previously described I magnetic slugl 3.

netized slug II also formed of a high permeable alloy such as Alnico or the like. The slug i4 is so located, within the so-called ice cream cone B, that the end which will normally be presented toward the mouth of the figure A will be of like, polarity to the outwardly projecting or proximate end of the magnetic slug it. Thus, when the so-called ice cream cone B is manually presented toward the mouth of the figure A, like poles of the two magnets or magnetic slugs l3, It, will be brought into relatively close proximity and will set up a repelling force which will cause the upper portion I of the figure A to rock backwardly simulating a mouth opening or biting movement substantially as shown in I'igure\2. When the so-called ice cream cone B is.removed the magnetic force which holds the head in upwardly rocked position will be thus withdrawn and the head, which is normally overbalanced' toward closed position by its own weight, will rock downwardly again to resume the position shown in Figure 1.

If desired, the so-called ice-cream cone B may be presented toward the side of the figure in the direction of what might be referred to as the cheek and in that case the portions of magnetic repulsion would be set up in the horizontal plane rather'than in the vertical plane so that the figure would swivel about on the pin 0 or, in effect, turn away from the proffered mqrsel. If, under some particular circumstance, it might be desired to have the head turn toward rather than away from the object presented to it, this result could be accomplished by reversing the relative polarity of the magnets. In other words, by turning the so-called ice cream cone B end for end and presenting the point end toward the cheek of the figure A the latter would then turn toward, rather than away from the so-called ice cream cone B.

If desired, a novelty toy C, simulative of the cartoon character Donald Duck, may be also constructed in accordance with the present invention. The toy C consists of a conventional base It provided in its upper end with a suitable socket It for receiving a swivel pin i1 rigidly mounted in the lower end of a molded head section It which integrally includes a lower bill or beak element I land an upwardly extending back head section 20. Separately molded for adhesive juncture with the back head 2| along the juncture line 2| is a front or face portion 22 the lower margin 23 of which is spaced upwardly from the lower beak I! so as to provide an opening 24. Molded integrally with portions il, 22, for matching alignment across the juncture line 2| interiorly of the toy c, are matching semici cu a Provided for co-operation with the toy C is a simulative, 'edible mcrsel such as a fish D formed preferably of a molded synthetic plastic and having concealed in the forward end thereof a cylindrical slug or magnet ll. As above described, the slw I. is so placed that the forwardly presented end, as shown in Figure 6, will be of the same polarity as the outwardly presented or proximate end of the slug 2!. Thus when the fish D is presented toward the beak of the toy C the forces of the magnetic repulsion will raise the upper beak member 21 from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 6, simulating a mouth opening movement. Similarly, if the fish D is presented to one side or the other of the toy C so thatthe magnetic repulsion forces act in the horizontal rather than the vertical plane, the head will swing to one side, either away from or toward the fish D, depending upon which end of the fish D is presented toward the magnetic slug ll. As above pointed out, the magnetic forces between the two magnetic slugs 2!, II, will be either repellent or attractive forces depending upon the relative polarities of the proximate ends of the magnetic slugs 2!, 3|.

It is also possible to provide a further modified form of novelty toy E which, for example, may be molded in the form of the cartoon dog character, Pluto. As shown in Figure 11, the novelty toy E consists of a suitable base Ii provided in its upper end with a socket 82 for receiving a swivel pin 23 rigidly mounted in the lower end of a molded plastic jaw forming element 24 which is mechanically identical with the previously described lower jaw element 8 of the toy A, and integrally provided at its upper end with a hinge forming element 3| which projects laterally outwardly at its opposite ends and is rockably mounted in socket elements it formed by matching semi-circular boss portions 31 lying on opposite sides of the juncture line 38 between the adhesively connected front and back halves ll, 4|, respectively, which, when cemented together, form an upper or head member ll. Suitably mounted in, and protruding from, the front head element It, in the position approximately conforming to the position for the nose, is a cylindrical magnetic slug l2 substantially similar in type and function to the previously described magnetic slugs ll, 2!.

Also formed integrally in the front and back head sections I,- ll, in opposed alignment across the juncture line II are pairs of protruding socket elements 42 for rockably receiving the upper end of a depending rear-simulative member ll, provided in its lower end with a concealed magnetic slug I.

Provided fo'r co-operation with the toy E is an auxiliary object of molded, synthetic plastic material preferably in the form of a frankfurter and n sandwich or "hot dog," as it is sometimes called. Concealed within the upper end of the "hot dog" is a magnetic slug 4!, the polarity of which is so arranged in reference to the polarity of the magnetic slug 42 so that when the hot dog is brought forwardly and upwardly toward the nose portion of the toy E magnetic repulsion forces will be set up causing the head element ll to rock backwardly to the position shown in Figure 11 thereby simulating a mouth-opening movement.

If desired, the hot dog or some other similarly constructed article may be brought upwardly and inwardly toward 0118,91 the other of the ears I and by appropriate arrangement of polarity the ear can either be repelled or attracted so as to be lifted up or otherwise actuated, as schematically shown in Figure 12.

It should, of course, be understood that the .present invention may be applied to novelty toys molded in almost any shape or configuration to simulate fairy tale or story book characters such as Peter Rabbit.

' It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the novelty -toy may be made and substituted for those herein" shown and. described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I l. A figure toy having an upper portion simulative of a head with articulated jaws; said toy comprising a base-forming element adapted to be set upright upon a table, desk or other conventional supporting surface, a first movable member operatively mounted upon, and extending upwardly from, the upper end of said baseforming element for swivelling movement about an axis which is substantially upright when the base-forming element is in upright position, said first movable member havin a laterally projecting integral portion simulative "of a lower jaw, a pivot element integral with and carried by the first movable member for movement with said first movable member as the latter swivels about said upright axis, a second movable member rockably mounted on and carried by the pivot element so as to move bodily with said first movable member as the latter swivels about its upright axis and at the same time to be independently movable with respect to the first movable member about an axis perpendicular to the axis about which the first movable member swivels,

said second movable member having a laterally projecting integral portion simulative of an upper jaw and being normally disposed in overlying relation to the projecting portion of the first movable member to form, in conjunction therewith, a simulation of articulated jaws, and a magnet fixed in said second movable member in radially spaced relation to the pivot element, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producin rocking movement between said first and second movable members relative to each other and also swivelling movement of said movable members together as a unit relative to the base-forming element.

2. A figure toy having upper components which conjunctively represent a head with articulated jaws; said toy comprising a base-forming element adapted to occupy an upright position, a first movable member operatively mounted upon and extending upwardly from the upper end of said base-forming element for swivelling moveing engagement with the pivot element so that' the second movable member will move bodily with said first movable member as the latter swivels about its upright axis and at the same time be independently movable with respect to th'e'first movable member about an axis substantially perpendicular to'theg xis about which the first movable member swivels,.. said second movable member integrally including a portion pro-,

jecting laterally outwardly with respect to said bearing means and being shaped to simulate an upper jaw and being normally disposed in overlying relation to the projecting portion of the first movable member to form, in conjunction therewith, a simulation of articulated jaws, and a magnet fixed in the laterally projecting portion of the second movable member in radially spaced relation to the pivot element, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to th field of an ex-' ternalmagnet held in proximity thereto, or producing rocking movement between said first and second movable members relative to each other and also swivelling movement of said movable members together as a unit relative to the baseforming element.

3. A figure toy having upper components which are conjunctively simulative of a head with articulated mouth-simulating members; said, toy comprising a base-forming element adapted to be held upright and provided at its upper end with an upwardly presented socket-forming opening, a first movable member operatively mounted on top of said base-forming element and having a depending swivel pin rotatably mounted in the socket-forming opening for swivelling movement about an axis which is substantially upright when the base-forming element is in upright position, said first movable member having a laterally projecting integral portion simulative of a lower jaw, a pivot element integral with and carried by the first movable member for movement with said first movable member as the latter swivels about said upright axis, a second movable member rockably mounted on and carried by the pivot element so as to move bodily with said first movable member as the latter swivels about its upright axis and at the same time to be independently movable with respect to the first movable member about an axis perpendicular to the axis about which the first movable member swivels, said second movable member having 9, laterally projecting integral portion simulative of e an upper jaw and being normally disposed in overlying relation to the projecting portion of the first movable member to form, in conjunction therewith, a simulation of articulated jaws, and a magnet fixed in said second movable member in radially spaced relation to th pivot element,-

coniunctively are representative of a head with articulated Jaws; said toy comprising a baseforming element adapted to be held in upright position, a neck-simulative member rotatably mounted upon and extending upwardly from the upper end of said base-forming element for swivelling movement about an axis which i substantially upright when the base-forming ele- 1 meat is in upright position, said neck-simulative member having an integrally formed portion simulative ot a lowerjaw, pivot-forming means integral with the neck-simulative member, a. movable member shaped complementarily to the neck-simulative member and having an integral portion shaped to resemble an upper Jaw and disposed in overlying relation to the lower jawsimulative portion, said movable member being rockably mounted on and carried by the pivot element so as to move bodily with the necksimulative member as the latter swivels about said upright axis and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to the jawsimulative portion of the latter about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the neck-simulative member swivels, and

a magnet fixed in said second movable member I in radially spaced relation to the pivot element,

so a to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said first and second movable members relative to each other and also swivelling movement or said movable members bodily together in relation to the base-forming element.

5. A figure toy having upper components which are conjunctively simulative of an animal's head with articulated jaws, said toy comprising a baseiorming element adapted for disposition in an upright position and being provided with an upwardly presented socket-forming opening, a neck member operatively mounted on top of said baseforming element and having a depending bearing element rotatably mounted in the sockettorming opening, pivot means formed integrally with the neck member, a lower Jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the neck member, a head member, an upper jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the head member in overlying relation to the lower jaw, said head member being rockably mounted on and carried by the pivot means so as to move bodily with the neck member as the latter swivels and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to said neck member about a substantially horizontal axis whereby said jaws will open and shut in simula-- tion of natural animal jaws, and a magnet fixed in said upper jaw in radially spaced relation to the pivotmeans, so as to be capable, when the top is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said neck and head members relative to each other and also swivelling movement of said neck and head members bodily together in relation to the base-forming element.

6. A figure toy having upper components which are conjunctively simulative of a dog's head. with articulated jaws, said toy compris ng a base-forming element adapted for disposition in an upright position and being provided with v an upwardly presentedsocket-forming opening, a neck member operatively mounted on top Of said baseiorming element and having a depending bearing element rotatably mounted in the socket-torming opening, pivot means formed integrally wi h the neck member, a lower jaw formed rigidly with 8 and extending outwardly from the neck member, a head'member, an upper jaw iormed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the head memberin overlying relation to the lower Jaw, said head member being rockably mounted on and carried by the pivot means so as to move bodily with the neck member as the latter swivels and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to said neck member about a substantially horizontal axis whereby said Jaws will open and shut in simulation oi natural dog jaws, and a magnet fixed in said upper Jaw in radiall spaced relation to the pivot means, so as to be capable.

when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said neck and head members relative to each other and also swivelling movement 01 said neck and head members bodily together in relation to the base-torming element. l

7. A figure toy having upper components which are conjunctively simulative of a human's head with articulated jaws, said toy comprising a base forming element adapted for disposition in an upright position and being provided with an upwardly presented socket-forming opening, a neck member operatively mounted on top of said baseforming element and having a depending bearing element rotatably mounted in the socket-forming opening, pivot means formed integrally with, the neck member, a lower Jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the neck member, a head member, an upper jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly-from the head member in overlying relation to the lower jaw, said head member being rockably mounted onand carried by the pivot means so as to move bodily with the neck member as the latter swivels and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to said neck member about a substantially horizontal axis whereby said jaws will open and shut in simulation of natural human Jaws, and a magnet fixed in' said upper jaw in radially spaced relation to the pivot means, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said neck and head members relativeto each other and also swivelling movement of said neck and head members bodily together in relation to the base-torming element.

8. A figure toy having upper components which are conjunctively simulative oi a bird's head with articulated beak-members, said toy comprising a base-forming element adapted to be disposed in an upright position and provided with an upwardly presented socket-forming opening, a hollow head member operatively mounted on top of said base-forming element and having a depending bearing element rotatably mounted in the socket-forming opening, pivot means formed integrally with, and located interiorly within, the hollow head member, a lower beak formed rigidly with the head member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said head member further having an aperture above the lower beak, an upper beak shaped complementarily to the lower beak and projecting outwardly through the aperture in overlying relation with respect to the lower beak, said upper beak being provided interiorly of the aperture with bearing means rockably engaging the pivot means whereby the upper beak will move bodily with the head as the latter swivels and at the same time will be independently rockable with respect to the lower beak about a substantially horizontal axis, and a magnet fixed in the upper beak in radially spaced relation to the pivot means, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said upper and lower beaks relative to each other and also swivelling movement of said head and upper beak bodily together in relation to the base-forming element.

9. A figure toy having upper components which are conjunctively simulative of an animals head with articulated jaws, said toy comprising a baseforming element adapted for disposition in an upright position and being provided with an upwardly presented socket-forming opening, a neck member operatively mounted on top of said baseforming element and having a depending hearing element rotatably mounted in the socketforming opening, an upstanding element formed integrally with the neck member and being provided at its upper end with a transversely disposed hinge-pin having laterally projecting terminal portions, a lower jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the neck member, a hollow head member, an upper jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the head member in overlying relation to the lower jaw, said head member being provided inteniorly with juxtaposed hinge-forming sockets for engagement with the terminal portions of the hingepin whereby the head member is rockably mounted on and carried by the hinge-pin so as to move bodily with the neck member as the latter swivels and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to said neck member about a substantially horizontal axis whereby said jaws will open and shut in simulation of natural animal jaws, and a magnet fixed in said upper jaw in radially spaced relation to the pivot means, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said neck and head members relative to each other and also swivelling movement of said neck and head members bodily together in relation to the base-forming element.

10. A figure toy having upper components which are conjunctively simulative of an animals head with articulated jaws, said toy comprising a base-forming element adapted for disposition in an upright position and being provided with an upwardly presented socket-forming opening, a neck member operatively mounted on top of said base-forming element and having a depending bearing element rotatably mounted in the socket-forming opening, an upstanding hingeforming member formed integrally with the neck member and being provided at its upper end with laterally projecting terminal portions, a lower jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the neck member, a hollow head member, an upper jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the head member in overlying relation to the lower jaw, said head member being provided interiorly with juxtaposed hinge-forming sockets for engagement with the terminal portions of the hinge-forming member whereby the head member is rockably mounted on and 10 carried by the hinge-forming member so as to move bodily with the neck member as the latter swivels and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to said neck member about a substantially horizontal axis whereby said jaws will open and shut in simulation of natural animal jaws, and a magnet fixed in said upper jaw in radially spaced relation to the pivot means, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said neck and head members relative to each other and also swivelling movement of said neck and head members bodily together in relation to the base-forming element.

11. A figure toy having upper components which are conjunctively simulative of an animal's head with articulated jaws, said toy comprising a base-forming element adapted for disposition in an upright position and being provided with an upwardly presented socket-forming opening, a neck member operatively mounted on top of said base-forming element and having a depending bearing element rotatably mounted in the socket-forming opening, pivot means formed integrally with the neck member, a lower jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the neck member, a head member, an upper jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the head member in overlying relation to the lower jaw, said head member being rockably mounted on and carried by the pivot means so as to move bodily with the neck member as the latter swivels and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to said neck member about a substantially horizontal axis whereby said jaws will open and shut in simulation of natural animal jaws, a magnet fixed in said upper jaw in radially spaced relation to the pivot means, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said neck and head members relative to each other and also swivell ing movement of said neck and head members bodily together in relation to the base-forming element, and ear members swingably mounted on opposite sides of the head member each of said ear members having a magnet in the lower free end thereof whereby said ear members will be respectively actuable responsive to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto.

ANDRE O. BUSTANOBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

